FBU pours cold water on Government’s ‘glacial’ cladding removal

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The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has poured cold water on the government’s cladding removal programme, saying latest stats show progress as “glacial”.

A Building Safety Programme update released today July 11) reveals only one residential building has had flammable Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding removed over the last month.

By contrast, ten residential buildings had remedial work completed in the previous month’s update.

“The glacial speed of progress removing the very same flammable cladding as was on Grenfell Tower is simply shameful.

“To see just one further building have its dangerous cladding removed over the last month sums up the government’s half-hearted approach to public safety,” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack

“The glacial speed of progress removing the very same flammable cladding as was on Grenfell Tower is simply shameful. To see just one further building have its dangerous cladding removed over the last month sums up the government’s half-hearted approach to public safety.

Referencing Monday’s MHCLG committee meeting on building regulations and fire safety, Wrack said survivors and residents made it clear to MPs that just removing ACM cladding was not going far enough with there are countless other flammable materials used in the construction of residential buildings.

“But the government is failing by even this most basic measure, we need to remove all forms of flammable cladding and other fire safety failings before another tragedy takes place,” he said.

According to the update, figures as of last month show 106 high-rise residential and publicly owned buildings in England have completed remediation works to remove and replace ACM cladding systems – up one on the previous month.

This leaves a total of 327 high-rise residential and publicly owned buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations yet to be remediated in England.

Of the 102 social sector residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations yet to be remediated:

83 have started remediation

18 have a remediation plan in place but works have not started

One has reported an intent to remediate and is developing plans.

Of the 163 private sector residential buildings with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations yet to be remediated:

21 have started remediation

70 have a remediation plan in place but works have not started

37 have responded with an intent to remediate and are developing plans

35 buildings remain with unclear remediation plans

Seven private sector residential buildings have cladding status is still to be confirmed – this has fallen from around 170 buildings in June last year.